[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68906-68907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30688]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6855]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
Proposed San Diego-Tijuana Airport Cross Border Facility

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On October 2, 2009, the Department of State published in the 
Federal Register (74 FR 50997) a Notice of Receipt of Application for a 
Presidential Permit for an International Pedestrian Bridge on the U.S.-
Mexico Border near San Diego, California and Tijuana, Baja California, 
Mexico. This notice requested comment on Otay-Tijuana Venture, L.L.C.'s 
application for a Presidential permit to authorize the construction, 
operation, and maintenance of a new international pedestrian bridge 
called the San Diego-Tijuana Airport Cross Border Facility (CBF) on the 
U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego, California and Tijuana, Baja 
California, Mexico. The Department now gives notice of the availability 
of, and requests comment on, the draft environmental assessment (EA) 
that the project sponsor prepared under the Department's guidance.
    The Department's jurisdiction over this application is based upon 
Executive Order 11423 of August 16, 1968, as amended. As provided in 
E.O. 11423, the Department is circulating this application and the 
draft environmental assessment to relevant Federal and State agencies 
for review and comment. Under E.O. 11423, the Department has the 
responsibility to determine, taking into account input from these 
agencies and other stakeholders, whether issuance of a Presidential 
permit for this proposed bridge would be in the U.S. national interest.

DATES: Interested members of the public are invited to submit written 
comments regarding this draft environmental assessment on or before 
February 12, 2010 to Elizabeth Orlando (NEPA Program Manager) and Rob 
Allison (Office of Mexican Affairs), via e-mails to 
[email protected] and [email protected] or by mail to WHA/
MEX--Room 3909, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Orlando (NEPA Program 
Manager) and/or Rob Allison (Office of Mexican Affairs), via e-mails to 
[email protected] and [email protected]; by phone at 202-
647-9894; or by mail at WHA/MEX--Room 3909, Department of State, 
Washington, DC 20520. General information about Presidential Permits is 
available on the Internet at http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rt/permit/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The application and draft environmental 
assessment (EA) are available for review in the Office of Mexican 
Affairs during normal business hours. The draft EA is also available at 
the City of San Diego Otay-Nestor Branch Library located at 3003 
Coronado Ave, San Diego, California 92154-1521.
    In accordance with Section 102(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)) and implementing 
regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508) and the Department of State (22 CFR part 161), 
including in particular 22 CFR 161.7(c)(1), a draft EA was prepared by 
Otay-Tijuana Venture, L.L.C. on behalf of the Department of State to 
determine if there are any potential significant impacts from, and to 
address alternatives to, the proposed action.
    The draft EA addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the United States portion of the Cross 
Border Facility (CBF). According to the application and draft EA, the 
CBF would enable ticketed airline passengers to travel between Mexico's 
Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) and San Diego, California, via an 
enclosed, elevated pedestrian bridge. The CBF will consist of: a main 
building on the U.S. side of the border housing U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) inspection facilities along with shops and services to 
accommodate travelers; an approximately 525-foot pedestrian bridge from 
the main building on the

[[Page 68907]]

U.S. side connecting into TIJ's passenger terminal on the Mexican side; 
and parking facilities and areas for car rentals and potentially bus 
service on the U.S. side. According to the application, the CBF would 
allow passengers to bypass San Diego's congestion-prone ports of entry 
and avoid driving through the City of Tijuana.

    Dated: December 18, 2009.
Alex Lee,
Director, Office of Mexican Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-30688 Filed 12-28-09; 8:45 am]
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